NFYK13013U Experimental X-ray
Physics

X-rays are a remarkable tool in science: 20 Nobel prizes are
based on the use of X-rays. With the recent development of
synchrotron radiation sources (for Danish users primarily in
Hamburg, Grenoble, Lund and near Zurich) the brilliance of X-ray
sources has been increased by more than a billion times over the
conventional X-ray tube! The purpose of this course is to prepare
students, i.e. the scientists of the near future, to utilize this
tool in physics, chemistry, biophysics, materials science, biology.
Lectures are given on the basics of X-ray physics, exercises in the
lab will provide "hands-on" experience, and the course
concludes with a visit to the synchrotron facility MAX IV in Lund,
where students will experience the layout of synchrotron sources
and a variety of instrumental facilities.

Skills
The student is expected to have the following skills after
completing this course:

Describe the X-ray radiation in the wave characteristic, its
interaction with electrons and to establish the equation for
Thompson scattering.

Explain the scattering of atoms and molecules, and to establish
formulas for the related scattering function.

Being able to explain how X-rays are produced in the laboratory
and at synchrotron X-ray facilities using bending magnets, wigglers
and undulators, as well as the different characteristics of each
source. In addition, the students must be able formulate how the
X-ray beam is generated from a bending magnet and an
undulator.

Explain the fundamental optical properties of X-ray radiation
interaction with solids. The students must be able to deduce the
refractive index of X-rays and based on physical principles to
provide the Fresnel equation and the Snell’s law within the X-ray
regime. Finally, the student must be able to deduce the
reflectivity of sharp as well as rough surfaces and layered
systems.

Explain the properties of the main optical elements such as
monochromator, refractive lens, multilayer and mirrors as well as
to calculate the focal length of a refractive lens system.

Explain the spatial conformation of particles as based on
small-angle scattering and the structure of simple crystals based
on X-ray diffraction. Further explain the relationship between the
reciprocal lattice, the Miller index and diffraction. The student
must also be able to calculate the structure factors and the
reflection from simple systems, including two-dimensional systems
and to describe the effect of thermal fluctuations of
diffraction.

Explain the Ewald construction and powder diffraction

Setup the basic equations for resonant scattering and the
principle of Multiple Anomalous Diffraction, and to explain how to
use this to solve the phase-problem when studying protein
structures.

Knowledge
The course will describe the basic interaction between x-ray
radiation and materials going from Thomson scattering from free
electrons to the classical reciprocal space description of
scattering from crystal. A fair part of the course will contain a
discussion on new x-ray sources and the development of modern x-ray
components, including optics using the refractive properties of
materials. Finally, discussions of applications of X-rays will
include the Extended X-ray Absorption and phasing of structure
factors using anormalous scattering. The exercises will contain a
discussion of detectors and anode x-ray sources as well as x-ray
small-angle scattering. During the visit to MAX IV in Lund, we will
exploit the properties of synchtrotron radiation

Competences
The student will be familiar with the application of X-Ray
techniques in physics, chemistry, biophysics, materials science and
biology and have "hands on" lab experience. The student
will have insight into what type of information can be gained using
X-ray methods, where such facilities exists, and which components
are critical in the experiment.

To participate in the oral exam the written reports handed in
during the course must have been approved.

Aid

Without aids

Marking scale

7-point grading scale

Censorship form

No external censorship

More internal examiners

Re-exam

Same as regular exam.
If the student participated in the experiments during the course
but the reports were not approved, it will be possible to hand in
new reports no later than 2 weeks before the re-exam.
For a student who did not participate in the experiments it will
not be possible to take the re-exam, and the student must follow
the course again the following year.